Blackbuck National Park: Spend Some Time with the Wild

Spending time with wildlife

India is a diverse country. It is not only diverse in respect to the cultures, religious and the lifestyle that the people follow; the country has been blessed with a diverse climate as well. The geographic location of the country is such that it has various kinds of ecologies. In the eastern part, you will be able to experience the marshy environment. The best place to come face to face with these magnificent creatures is at the Blackbuck National Park.

As the climate changes, the vegetation of the place also differs. It is a well-known fact that the wildlife of an area is predominantly determined by the climate and vegetation of the place. Thus, you have a lot of options to choose from. If you are visiting Gujarat, make sure that pay the rare and endangered species of deer, known as Blackbucks a visit. In the west, you will experience the desert climate. The lofty Himalayas dominate the northern parts and possess a mountainous climate while the south has the hot and humid tropical climate.

Location of the national park

The Blackbuck National Park is located in the Velavadar town. It is located in the district of Bhavnagar, in the state of Gujarat. The wildlife sanctuary was erected with the joint efforts of the central and the state government in the year 1976. The forest is situated at a distance of around 42 km from the primary city that shares the same name as the district, Bhavnagar.

The Blackbuck National Park is surrounded by Gulf of Khambhat towards the south, and the northern areas are dotted with agricultural lands and barren wastelands. Due to the geographical and the climatic characteristic of the area, the forest falls in a semi-arid bio-geographical section. As per the classifications, the park falls in the 4B Gujarat-Rajwada biotic sphere. There are some water bodies in the park towards the south, and these are connected with the Gulf.

During the monsoons, the water level in the Gulf rises and the southern areas of the reserve become flooded temporarily. Due to this, flora and fauna in these areas are much different from that of the arid grasslands. Overall, the reserve has a grassland ecosystem.

Area of the Blackbuck National Park

When the park was established, the area that it encompassed was 18 sqkm. But after only four years, in 1980, the government and the forest department decided to include an additional 16 sqkm. After that, the total area of the reserve stood at a whopping 34.08 sqkm. As the climate, soil and the natural vegetation is not the same all over the park; the tourists will be able to experience various habitats.

As per the reports submitted by the Remote Sensing Department, the entire reserve can be divided into five different habitats. They are – 7.57 sqkm grassland, 5.05 sqkm Prosopis shrubland, 9.91 sqkm sparse grasslands, 5.08 sqkm high tidal mudflats and 5.13 sqkm saline lands. Thus the park has a lot to offer to the tourists who want to see amazing creatures as well as nature lovers.

Animals found in the park

As the name suggests the Blackbuck National Park in Gujarat is well-known for the rare species of these majestic deer. These deer are considered rare as they are only found in this part. Apparently, the dry grassland climate and the vegetation suit their needs perfectly. The total number of these Blackbucks has dwindled over time. The main reason for this is poaching. To save the existing population of these deer, the government of the state has demarcated the area as a protected forest. It means that people are not supposed to hunt any animals here. In case a poacher is caught, strict action will be taken against them.

Apart from these deer, the wildlife lovers will also get the chance of laying their eyes on the wolves, hyenas, Macqueen’s Bustards, foxes, jungle cats, and jackals. You will also see wild pigs, grassland rodents, and hares roaming around on the grounds. If you are a bird lover, then there are hundreds of species of birds, waiting to welcome you. Larks and sandgrouse are the common bird species found here. You will be able to get a guided tour of the park. The safaris, arranged by the forest department have become very popular among the locals as well as international tourists.

Best time to visit the park

Visiting the Blackbuck National Park during the peak summer months will be too hectic for the tourists. Thus, it is better to go to this reserved forest during the winter and the monsoon months. The percentage of people, visiting the forest increases by many folds during mid-June and in the months ranging from December to the beginning of March. If you set foot in the forest during the winter months, you will also be able to see hundreds of migratory birds. These migratory birds cover thousands of miles to escape the freezing Scandinavian winters.

Experience of a lifetime

Watching the Blackbucks, running wild and free, will enthrall your senses. If you are into nature, then this forest will provide you with the opportunity of seeing various kinds of trees and flowers. Some of these also have medicinal properties as well. When you see the wild beasts, you will feel the excitement in your pulsating veins. The rarity of the species found here, especially the deer have given the forest a special place in the international arena as well.